Reclining chair with fold-under extendable leg rest



E. JELINEK March 14, 196.1

RECLINING CHAIR WITH FOLD-UNDER EXTENDABLE LEG REST 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct, 19,' 1959 9 z'v'fz E. JELINEK RECLINING CHAIR WITH FOLD-UNDEREXTENDABLE LEG REST Filed Oct. 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Enited StatesPatent O RECLINING CHAIR WITH FOLD-UNDER EXTENDABLE LEG RES'I` ErwinJelinek, Naperville, Ill., assignor to Kroehler Mfg. Co., Naperville,lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 847,300 7Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to reclining chairs andmore particularly to a reclining chair wherein a unitary seat and backstructure and leg rest operate in synchronism, when the seat and backunit is moved by an occupant to a reclining or upright position.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a reclining chairin which rearward tilting movement of the seat and back unit results inupward and outward movement of the leg rest relative to the seat.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a `reclining typechair having a two-part extendable leg rest in which one pant isarranged'to be compactly tion illustrated by' the solid lines in Fig. 1corresponding to a fully reclining position, and the positionillustrated in Fig. 2 corresponding to a sitting or upright position.

The leg rest assembly includes a leg rest formed of two elements 13 and14. Said elements when the chair is in a reclining position, asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, are disposed in substantially coplanaralignment, and whenV the chair is in a sitting position, are disposed sothat one of the elements 13 is arranged substantially verticallyadjacent the forward end of the seat 11 and the other element 14 isarranged compactly under the seat.

A metal plate 16 secured to the forward portion of each seat rail 11affords means for pivotally connecting to the seat 7 a plurality oflinks, hereinafter to be described. The leg rest elements 13 and 14 areconnected to the seat 7 by a linkage arrangement which inis pivotallyconnected, as at 24 to an angle bracket 23 supported beneath the seatwhen the chair is in norl mal sitting position, permitting a reductionin the depth of the frame from the seat level and contributing to amodern streamlined appearance of the chair design.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a reclining chairwhich lends itself to manifold styling so l f as to be compatible with awide variety of furniture i designs.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a chair of theforegoing type which is simple in'construction and efficient inoperation.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent from :the following description, when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of a chair, inaccordance with my invention, showing one. side of the mechanism whichcontrols the movement of the seat and leg rest and showing, in solidlines, the parts in reclining position and, in broken lines, the partsin an intermediate position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts as Ywhen the chair is insitting or upright position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the leg reststructure shown in Fig. l but viewed from an opposite side; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the leg reststructure shown in Fig. 2 but viewed from an opposite side.

Referring to the drawings, the chair construction of my inventioncomprises generally, a supporting frame formed of a pair of side framemembers 5 and one or more transverse brace members 6. While the linkagearrangement hereinafter to be described is employed in duplicate, one oneach of the opposite sides of the chair structure, for purposes ofsimplification only one of said arrangements will be described inconnection with the drawings.

The unitary seat and back structure which includes a seat 7 and a back 8rigid with each other, is movable as a unit. A bracket 9 is attached ltothe underside of each of the seat rails 11 with said brackets being intransverse registration and being pivotally connected to the frame 5 asat 12.

The seat and back unit pivots between the positions illustrated by thesolid lines in Figs. 1 and 2, the posiwhich is secured to leg restelement 13, the opposite end of said third link being connected to thelowermost end of the first link 17, as at 26, said second and thirdlinks crossing each other and being pivotally connected to each other,as at 27. A fourth link 28 is pivotally connected to a lever 29intermediate the ends thereof, as at 31, one end of said lever beingpivotally connected tothe end of the third link 22, the pivotalconnection being coaxial with the pivotal connection 24. The oppositeend of the lever 29 has lsecured thereto rigidly an angle bracket'32which is secured to the leg rest element 14. The lever 29, as seenclearly in Figs. 3 and 4, is double-armed and has a terminal .portion 33extending a short distance beyond the pivotal connection 24, theterminal portion 33 being tapered so that the edges come substantiallyto a blunt point. The bracket 23 is provided with a pair of spaced fixedpins 34 and 36 extending only into the path of movement of the thirdlink 22, short of contact with lever 29, said pins affording abutmentstolimit the movement of the bracket 23 relative to the third link 22. Aswill be seen clearly in Fig. 3, when the structure is disposed inreclining position the third link 22 will abut the pin 36 along one edgeand flange 37 of bracket 23 will abut lever 29, effecting asubstantially coplanar alignment of the leg rest elements 13 and 14. Thethird link 22 will abut along an opposite edge against the pin 34 as thelinkage arrangement is caused to be moved to` sitting position. It willbe seen that in the last mentioned relationship, the third link 22 actsin the nature of a cam to rock the leg rest element 13 so that itassumes a substantially vertical position, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and4. In said position, the end of terminal portion 33 of the lever 29engages against the flange 37 of the bracket 23 to lock the same againstpivotal movement, relative to the lever 29 and ithird link 22, therebylocking leg rest element 13 in substantially a vertical position. Inmoving to sitting position, the linkage is caused -to move to compactedor collapsed relationship so that the lever 29 carrying the leg restelement 14 assumes a position below the seat and in substantially closeproximity thereto.

A controlling member 39 is pivotally connected at one end, as at 41 to abracket E42, mounted on the side of frame 5, the pivotal connection 41being below the seat 7 but above the pivotal connection 12. Thecontrolling member 39 is pivotally connected at the other end to a iirstconnecting link 43 which is pivoted intermediate its ends, las at 44 tothe plate 16 mounted on the seat 7, the pivotal connection 44 beingabove the pivotal connection 18. A second connecting link 46 pivotallyconnected at one end to the end of the first connecting link 43, as at47 and to the first and third links 17 and 22 respectively, at point 26where said two links are pivotally connected to each other. The secondconnecting link 46 is provided with an integral extension 49 'extendingbeyond the pivotal connection 26. A pin 5l extending laterally from theend of the extension 49 of the second connecting link is adapted to beengaged by one end of la coiled tension spring 52, the other end of saidspring being connected to a corresponding pin 53 extending laterally ofthe plate 16. The pin 53 affords a st'op for link 43 when the same is inthe position illustrated by the solid lines in Fig. l corresponding tofull reclining position of the chair. The spring 52 is maintained underconstant tension and affords -assistance to the user of the chair inmoving from one position to another and also serves to retain thelinkage arrangement in sitting or reclining position since, as Will beseen in Figs. l and 2, the spring tends to shorten as it assumesover-center positions in relation to the pivotal connection 44.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided an improvedreclining chair construction in which a portion of the leg rest isarranged to fold under and to be compactly supported beneath the seatwhen the chair is in normal position, thereby affording a modernstreamlined appearance to the chair design.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to belimited to the specific embodiments shown and described or usesmentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of myinvention being limited only by the appended claims. Y

I claim:

l. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising asupport, a unit including a back rest and seat rigid with each other,said unit being rockably mounted on said support, 4a first link pivotedto said seat, a second link pivoted to said` seat, a two-part leg rest,a third link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said rst link, saidsecond link and the first part of said leg rest, said third link andsaid second link crossing each other at the pivotal connectionconnecting the saine with each other, la lever pivotally connected tosaid third link and said first leg rest part at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, a fourth link pivoted *at spacedpoints thereof to said second link and to said lever intermediate itsends, the second part of said leg rest carried on said lever, a controlmember pivotally mounted on said support, a first connect-ing linkpivoted intermediate its ends to said seat and connected at one end tosaid control member, a second connecting link pivotally connected at oneend to the other end of first connecting link, the other end of saidsecond connecting link being connected to said first and third links atthe pivotal connection connecting the same with each other.

2. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising`a support, a unit including a back rest and seat rigid with each other,said unit being rockably mounted on said support, a first link pivotedto said seat, a second link pivoted to said seat, Aa twoapart leg rest,a third link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first link, saidsecond link and the first part of said leg rest, said third link andsaid second link crossing each other at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, a lever pivotally connected to saidthird link and said first leg rest part `at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, a fourth link pivoted at spacedpoints thereof to said second link and to said lever intermediate itsends, the second part of said leg rest carried on said lever, a controlmember pivotally mounted on said support, a first connecting linkpivoted intermediate its ends to said seat and connected at one end tosaid control member, a second connecting link pivotally connected atoneend to the other end of first connecting link, the other end of saidsecond connecting link being connected to said first and third links atthe pivotal connection connecting the same with cach other, and stopabutment means carried on the first leg rest part and engageable withopposite edges of said third link for controlling the movement of saidfirst leg rest part.

3. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising asupport, a unit including a back rest and seat rigid with each other,said unit being rockably mounted on said support, a first link pivotedto said seat, a second link pivoted to said seat, a two-part leg rest, athird link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first link, saidsecond link and the first part of said leg rest, said third link andsaid second link crossing each other at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, a lever pivotally connected to saidthird link and said first leg rest part at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, a fourth link pivoted at spacedpoints thereof to said second link and to said lever intermediate itsends, the second part of said leg rest carried on said lever, a controlmember pivotally mounted on said support, a first connecting linkpivoted intermediate its ends to said seat and connected at one end tosaid control member, a second connecting link pivotally connected at oneend to the other end of first connecting link, the other end of saidsecond connecting link being connected to said first and third links atthe pivotal connection connecting the same with each other, said leverhaving a terminal portion extending beyond the pivotal connection of thesame with the rst leg rest portion, an edge of said terminal portionengaging said first leg rest part to limit the movement of the same whenthe parts are in sitting position.

4. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising asupport, a unit including a back rest and seat rigid with each other,said unit being rockably mounted on said support, a first link pivotedto said seat, a second link pivoted to said seat, a two-part leg rest, athird link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first link, saidsecond link and the first part of said leg rest, said third link andsaid second link crossing each other at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, a lever pivotally connected to saidthird link and said first leg rest part at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, a fourth link pivoted at spacedpoints thereof to said second link and to said lever intermediate itsends, the second part of said leg rest carried on said lever, a controlmember pivotally mounted on said support, a first connecting linkpivoted intermediate its ends to said seat and connected at one end tosaid control member, a second connecting link pivotally connected at oneend to the other end of the first connecting link, the other end of saidsecond connecting link being connected to said first and third links atthe pivotal connection connecting the same with each other, said secondconnecting link having an extension beyond the pivotal connection of thesame with the first and third links and a coiled tension springconnected to said seat and to said extension.

5. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising asupport, a unit including a back rest and seat rigid with each other,said unit being vrockably lmounted on said support, a first link pivotedto said seat, a second link pivoted to said seat, a two-part leg rest, athird link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first link, saidsecond link and the first part of said leg rest, said third link andsaid second link crossing each other at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, a lever pivotally connected to saidthird link and said first leg rest part at the pivotal connectionconnecting same with each other, a fourth link pivoted at spaced pointsthereof to said second link and to said lever intermediate its ends, thesecond part of said leg rest carried on said lever, a control memberpivotally mounted on said support, a iirst connecting link pivotedintermediate its ends to said seat and connected at one end to saidcontrolling member, a second connecting link pivotally connected at oneend to the other end of rst connecting link, the other end of saidsecond connecting link being connected to said rst and third links atthe pivotal connection connecting the same with each other, and stopabutment means carried on the first leg rest part and engageable withopposite edges of said third link for controlling the movement of saidfirst leg rest part, said lever having a terminal portion extendingbeyond the pivotal connection of the same with the rst leg rest part, anedge of said terminal portion engaging said first leg rest portion tolimit the movement of the same when the parts are in sitting position.

6. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising asupport, a unit including a back rest and seat rigid with each other,said unit being rockably mounted on said support, a first link pivotedto said seat, a second link pivoted to said seat, a'two-part leg rest, athird link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first link, saidsecond link and the iirst part of said leg rest, said third link andsaid second link crossing each other at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, a lever pivotally connected to saidthird link and said `first leg rest part at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, a fourth link pivoted at spacedpoints thereof to said second link and to said lever intermediate itsends, the second part of said leg rest carried on said lever, a controlmember pivotally mounted on said support, a rst connecting link pivotedintermediate its ends to said seat and connected at one end to saidcontrol member, a second connecting link pivotally connected at one endto the other end v,of first connecting link, the other end of saidsecond connecting link -being connected to said first and third links atthe pivotal connection connecting the same with each other, and stopabutment means carried on the iirst leg rest part and engageable withopposite edges of said third link'for controlling the movement of saidiirst leg rest part, said second connecting link having an extensionbeyond the pivotal connection of the same with the rst and third linksand a coiled tension spring connected to said seat and to saidextension.

rest and seat rigid with eachother, said unit -being rock-V ably mountedon said support, a iirst link pivoted to said seat, a second linkpivoted to said seat, a two-part leg rest, a third link pivoted atspaced points thereof to said rst link, said second link and the tirstpart of said leg rest, said third link and said second link crossingeach other at the pivotal connection connecting the same With eachother, a lever pivotally connected to Ysaid third link and said rst legrest part at the pivotal connection connecting the same with each other,a Ifourth link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said second link andto said lever intermediate its ends, the second part of said leg restcarried on said lever, a control member pivotally mounted on saidsupport, -a rst connecting link pivoted intermediate its ends to saidseat and connected at one end to said control member, a secondconnecting link pivotally connected at one end to the other end of lirstconnecting link, the other end of said second connecting link beingconnected to said lirst and third links at the pivotal connectionconnecting the same with each other, and stop abutment means carried onthe ytirst leg rest part and engageable with opposite edges of saidthird link for controlling the movement of said first leg rest part,said lever having a terminal portion Y References Cited in the tile 0fthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,942 Spear Ian. 5, 1954 2,726,709Lorenz Dec. 13, 1955 2,781,826 Rote Feb. 19, 1957 2,838,093 Bank et al.June 10, 1958 2,853,120 Bank et al. Sept. 23, 1958 2,875,814Schliephacke Mar. 3, 1959 Bank et al. ....1 May 5, 1959

